India, Nov. 27 -- On a damp spring morning, I found myself walking through the cobbled streets of Canterbury, the ancient cathedral's spires peeking out from behind half-timbered houses. Nestled in southeastern England, the town is best known as the setting for The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century masterpiece, one of the most influential works in English literature. In it, a group of pilgrims travels from Southwark to Canterbury Cathedral, each telling a tale to pass the time.

I began my journey at the gates of the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the destination of the pilgrims in Chaucer's book. The tomb of Saint Thomas Becket remains one of Canterbury's greatest draws, attracting both...